Grotz: Possibilities are plentiful for Eagles

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson sets up to block during a preseason game. According to a website, the Eagles run plays more often behind Johnson than veteran tackle Jason Peters. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, file)

For those wondering what has to go right for the Eagles to secure a playoff berth Sunday or in the future, here are some of the basic clinching situations gathered with help from PlayoffStatus.com, which is full of interesting probabilities and highly, highly recommended.

To get into the playoffs Sunday the Eagles need to beat the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field in the 8:30 p.m. game and the Dallas Cowboys to lose to the Washington Redskins. But there’s more to the seeding possibilities.

This is what’s ahead of the Eagles in situations excluding ties:

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Five-star scenario: Eagles wrap up the NFC East title Sunday by beating the Bears after the Redskins knock off the Cowboys and the Steelers defeat the Packers in early games. This would be 2008 all over again except the Eagles would be the third seed with a home playoff game.

Three-star scenario: Eagles defeat the Cowboys, Lions beat the Giants and the Vikings and the Steelers beat the Packers. This would be a third-seed and home game. Seems like a lot of “ands,” doesn’t it?

Two-star scenario: Eagles beat the Bears and the Cowboys (who beat the Redskins), Panthers beat the Saints and the Saints lose to the Buccaneers. Don’t see this happening.

The way the Eagles play offense and the way the line has been hyped this season you would expect it to be in the top 15, at the least.

And you would be wrong.

Though the Eagles lead the league in rushing, Footballoutsiders.com ranks the line 30th in run blocking. Only the Jaguars and the Ravens are worse.

The Bears, who are 13th in the NFL in rushing, are rated the 20th-best run blocking offensive line by Outsiders.

In passing offense the Eagles rank seventh in the NFL. In offensive line pass blocking the Birds are rated 28th by Outsiders. Only the Dolphins, Raiders, Seahawks and Jets are worse.

The Bears are fifth in the league in passing yards and ranked the third-best pass blocking line by Outsiders.

If you’re outraged by the results, check the Outsiders criteria.

This also should be interesting to Eagles fans who think most of the team’s runs have gone to the left side where Jason Peters and Evan Mathis work. Seems logical as Peters has the All-Pro credentials and Mathis is the unsung hero of the line.

According to the Outsiders table, the majority of the Eagles runs are up the middle with center Jason Kelce and to the right with guard Todd Herremans and rookie tackle Lane Johnson.

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These interesting figures are from Charean Williams (@nflcharean), who does a stellar job covering the Cowboys and the NFL.

The Cowboys are 135-135 since 1997 after winning three Super Bowls in Jerry Jones’ first seven years as owner. That $1.15 billion stadium took a lot out of him.

The Eagles are 147-121-1 (.548) since 1997 … with one Super Bowl appearance but zero titles.

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Howie Long’s son Kyle is the starting right guard for the Bears.

Kyle Long was recruited to Oregon by Eagles head coach Chip Kelly, who had a lot of success with the Ducks.

“The biggest difference right now is we huddle and there’s no music in practice,” Kyle Long said of the Bears. “Besides that I feel like there’s a lot of similarities in the things they preach and the kind of team they want to have and the kind of team they’re developing.”